– The whistle-blowing policy of the federal government had recently become challenged by the report of the sack of a government worker
– The sack of the staff was said to have been approved by the minister of state for Foreign Affairs after he expose alleged corruption
There is a level of panic among the management team of the ministry of Foreign Affairs following the decision of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence investigation into the alleged sack of a whistle-blower.
Magu is to personally handle the case
The staff was reportedly sacked for exposing the diversion of $229,000 and N800,000 by top officials of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA).
Vanguard reports that the EFCC now has the directive by the presidency to probe why the minister of State for Foreign Affairs approved the sack of the staff.
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Ibrahim Magu, the chairman of the EFCC, is reportedly taking up the issue by himself and is expected to report back to the presidency within a short unspecified time.
The report said the presidency was concerned that the case has assumed an international dimension.
Earlier, in a statement made available to ZENITHBLOG.com by the minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, the federal government promised it will protect and reward whistle-blowers who provide information that leads to the recovery of stolen funds or assets.
In the statement released on Sunday, March 19, the government said it would protect the identity of all whistle-blowers, whether in the public or the private sector, and also ensure that the information they provide is kept secret.
“For those who may have suffered any backlash as a result of the information they provide, their cases will be reviewed and appropriate mitigating actions taken,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the assurance followed the presentations made to the Presidential Assets Recovery Committee by concerned citizens and groups about the safety of whistle-blowers.
“Whistle-blowers have nothing to fear, because the committee has put in place the necessary measures to safeguard those who give useful information. As a matter of fact, whistle-blowers have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” he said.
The minister said any whistle-blower whose information leads to the recovery of up to N1 billion will receive five percent of the amount; that the reward for any amount between N1 billion and N5 billion will be five percent for the first N1 billion and four percent of the remaining N4 billion, and that any amount over N5 billion will attract 2.5 percent reward.
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“For example, if a whistle-blower provides information leading to the recovery of 10 billion Naira, he or she will receive five percent of the first N1 billion, four percent of the next N4 billion and 2.5% of the remaining N5 billion.
“What we have done by making this information public is to reassure potential whistle-blowers that the plan to reward is real.
“We are not just saying we will pay all whistle-blowers, but we are letting them know in advance what they are entitled to, once the information they provide leads to the recovery of looted funds,” he said.
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